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Dear eNews reader,

Following an enjoyable summer pause, we are pleased to resume our monthly eNewsletter, reporting on the doings of Nemetschek Scia and the construction world.

In our first article you learn of the continuing internationalisation within Scia. Further we present a project of Ney & Partners, the winner in category 2 of the Nemetschek Engineering User Contest 2009. And last but not least we come out with some Allplan tips en tricks.

We wish you a lot of reading pleasure!

Nemetschek Scia continues internationalisation

The Nemetschek Engineering User contest has shown the increased globalisation of engineering services by our clients. The published 122 engineering design projects concerned structures built in 16 countries, from Australia over Turkey up to Finland. The company Nemetschek Scia should be present where its clients are active, therefore we are pleased to announce three new representations: In Sao Paulo (Brazil) a partnership is signed with Arl Vasconcellos (Gestao Empresarial na Construcao am Aco); Mr Vasconcellos is a recognised specialist for steel structures. Currently he is teaching a course “New perspectives on design and fabrication of steel structures with Scia Engineer” at the ABCEM (Association for Steel Structures in Brazil)

• In Madrid (Spain) a new Scia agency is opened under the management of eng. Miguel Angel de Mingo.  Spain has an unseen residential construction crisis, yet is still growing in the infrastructure segment
  
  
• In partnership with Nemetschek North America (producer of Vectorworks) a new Scia division is set up in Columbia, Maryland (USA, close to Washington DC).  This division is targeting on the US market, principally the segment of engineering consultants active in public constructions (infrastructure, energy plants, health and education).

The integrated (one software platform) approach of Scia for modelling, analysis and design of a broad range of structures is appealing to a wide audience.  Instead of using different programs for every structural type - which is common practice at many consultants - efficiency and quality of design documentation (reports and drawings) greatly increase with the Scia Engineer solution.

Office building `Facelift Umicore' (BE) by Ney & Partners (BE)

About Ney & Partners Ney & Partners is a structural engineer consultancy; it has its seat in Brussels. From the foundation in 1997, the office has worked with an active view on the art of engineering through the integration of the different civil works disciplines. This integration and optimization of structural elements aim to overcome the traditional, hierarchic assembly of constructive solutions. Innovative bridges, roof structures and works of art developed by the office, express most clearly this vision.

The use of Scia Engineer
Scia Engineer was used to quickly and efficiently model and analyse several solutions. So from the early designing phases on, important decisions could be made and this resulted in an aesthetic, structural and economical justified solution. Scia software made it also possible to analyse the initial and final deformations in function of the real geometry, the age of the concrete and the necessary theoretical reinforcement. Sophisticated 3D-modelling was necessary to be able to assess the horizontal distortions on both long-term and short-term. A lot of attention was also paid to the introduction of construction stages for the removal of the formwork and to intermediate strength effects.

Allplan Engineering: How to create a freeform lofted solid?

A lofted solid is a shape created by connecting a series of cross sections. In Allplan, there are two basic functions that can create a lofted solid: “tessellated solid” and “ruled solid”, but these are restricted to parallel sections. So how can you create a solid based on a number of sections along a free path?
We think out of the box and use the “bridge/civil engineering component” …

For this, we need (at least) two sections and a path, the procedure goes as follows:

1. In 2D, draw two sections (one for the bottom, one for the top) and save them as symbol.

2. Design your freeform path:

• draw a spline and polygonize it (use “convert 2d entities to 3d”and “hidden line image”, then copy-paste the result in your drawing file)
• create a "composite elemen"t from the poligonized spline and export it with “file interface”

• “import route”: choose the path you have just exported as a composite element
• insert your cross sections:  one at the top and one at the bottom
• "export route" to create the shape

4. To edit this element, it has to be converted to a 3D solid: use “convert elements” and choose “bridge/civil engineering component”.

The lofted shape can now be handled as a general 3D solid.

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